Just kidding. But that's what everyone thinks when you say you're "Cleansing". It's got this awful connotation because there are radicals out there that insist on defaming the core concept behind cleansing-- which is hitting a restart button on mind/body/spirit-- whichever applies to the cleanse you're doing.
I don't tell people very often that I am a self-proclaimed recovering shopping addict. It seems like a pretty regular thing for a young woman to do--shop, that is-- but I felt like I had taken it to the next level. I don't have any other vices-- smoking or gambling are lucky enough to evade me. And not for lack of experience.
Once in college my bestie and I watched a movie, thought smoking looked decidedly cool (it was a 50's movie) and we wanted to know what the hype was about. So we bought a pack, took a drive, and tried to experience what so many of our culture cannot escape-- the appeal of cigarettes. We ended up laughing more than smoking because this is of course, a ridiculous experiment but despite our very blatant exposure, neither of us retained an addiction.
Anyway, when I participated in a 30 Day Challenge that asked me to actively not shop and share the experience with the world-- not just my conscience-- I found that breaking up is oh so hard to do.
But break up I did. I was moody and cranky and it forced me to face how much I actually used a new shirt or any other material object to cope with long days or bad moods, and it turns out that it was a lot. So as a recovering addict, I fully support the concept of cleansing because that's what I did-- I cleansed myself of the reckless thoughts and actions that have plagued me for so long. My spirit, and my bank account, have duly thanked me.
This time around, I decided to try a juice cleanse because, why not? Who am I to judge if I've never actually done one? So I did and I tell ya what... turns out I was kind of addicted to food, too.
Don't think that I casually use the word "addict" because I'm not claiming to be "meth-level" addict, but there's a part of me that wouldn't let up.
Don't you just want a steak, Jess? Don't you miss chewing, Jess? Mmmm... buffalo sauce...
In those three days I was hyper aware of how much food played into my life. I know that my dream job is to be a traveling food writer ala Andrew Zimmern and Samantha Brown, so I already care more than the average bear, but this was different. There was one point where I had walked down the hall from my desk and upon returning to it, walked directly to the office kitchen. And I wasn't even hungry. Or thirsty. I just did it on autopilot because that's what I usually did at that time of day.
If you think I was just missing the act of chewing, you're right. I did. And this cleanse asks people to not stress themselves out over not eating by encouraging them to have something healthy to eat if the spirit moves them. So I made guacamole and ate it with crunchy flax seed chips. And so my crunch-crave was fulfilled.
The cleanse itself was fun. (No, seriously.) It was a personal challenge and there were moments of weakness but it was a real test against myself. Manfriend supported me along the way (i.e. When I wanted wings at 11pm) but all in all I really enjoyed it. The juices were delicious and so fulfilling that I ended up with a few extra turning my 3-day into nearly a 4 day had I not opted for Korean wings in lieu of my ginger juice. I noted any changes in my body and found that I was not a victim or torture or any grand restriction as some people expect to be. More important I realized how what you put into your body really matters. I indulged all weekend and sorely regretted some of my choices. The mediocre quality of processed food against what I can create in my home or find in a top-notch restaurant loses in a show-down every time.
My mind has reawakened to a consciousness that appreciates what and how I eat. I have no idea if I'm thinner because I didn't weigh myself and I seriously don't care. But I do know that I'm lighter in spirit without the heavy burden of unchecked eating hanging over my head and resting in my stomach.
I plan on doing one again whenever I need to refocus my mind-- when I'm not cooking or cleaning up after cooking, I have time to think and decompress. If you're interested in a cleanse, I recommend it but not because you want to lose weight but because you're ready to challenge yourself physically as well as mentally.
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